Examination paper grader

ABSTRACT

AN EXAMINATION PAPER GRADER IN WHICH COMPLETED PREPRINTED EXAMINATION PAPERS ARE INSERTED INTO A BOX AND BY APPLYING A PRESSURE DOWNWARDLY ON THE TOP OF THE BOX A PLURALITY OF PREARRANGED PUNCHES CAUSE HOLES TO   BE PUNCHED IN THE PREPRINTED EXAMINATION PAPERS ADJACENT EACH CORRECT ANSWER.

March 2, 1971 I K. G. ZlETLOW EXAMINATION PAPER GRADER 2 Sheets-Sheetl Filed Oct. 1, 1969 March'Z, 1971 K. GQZIETLOW 3,566,485

EXAMINATION PAPER GRADER Filed Oct. 1, 1969 2 She t I I) ,5, z/lwen/m Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,566,485 EXAMINATION PAPER GRADER Kenneth G. Zietlow, 1050 Flake Drive, Palatine, Ill. 60067 Filed Oct. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 862,746 Int. Cl. G09b 3/00 US. Cl. 35-488 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An examination paper grader in which completed preprinted examination papers are inserted into a box and by applying a pressure downwardly on the top of the box a plurality of prearranged punches cause holes to be punched in the preprinted examination papers adjacent each correst answer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Examination papers of the multiple choice type have been manually marked by teachers for many years. More recently there have been attempts made to automatically grade such papers. Many of these devices are very complex and utilize electronic mechanisms. Still others use hole punching mechanisms of the type of this invention. However, these prior devices have been diflicult to use and have not been foolproof in their operation.

The present invention eliminates the complicated placement of the paper to be marked by providing a simple insertion into a fully enclosed box. After the paper is inserted a manual pressure is applied to the top of the box and by this action the proper holes are punched in the paper to be marked.

(2) Description of the prior art The patent to Taylor 1,860,909 recognized that a plurality of multiple choice examination papers could be stacked together with a work sheet having the correct answers and then a pointed object could be manually inserted through the stacked sheets at the proper place corresponding to the indicia indicating the correct answer to the problem.

The Strongman Patent 2,142,419 discloses a hinged device for mechanically punching an examination paper of the multiple choice type by hinging a plate with a plurality of punches over into a bed with a plurality of holes.

The Selby, Sr. Patent 2,764,239 is similar in operation to Taylor but provides a frame for holding the stack of examination papers in alignment while the operator with a sharp pick pushes downwardly through the papers and into a resilient material at the bottom of the frame.

The patent to Willey 2,936,532 is similar to Stron man in that it provides a device which operates on hinging. However, in Willey the punches or pins are carried in a separate template that is inserted between the upper and lower hinged portions and over the examination paper to cause punching when the hinged parts are brought together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and improved examination paper grader.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel automatic grader for examination papers of the type having printed multiple choice answers.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a novel grading device in which an examination paper to be graded is simply inserted into an enclosure and the enclosure pressed downwardly to cause a punching of holes adjacent the correct answers of multiple choice questions.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic grading device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational detail of the lower corner end of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional 'view similar to the sectional view of FIG. 2 but with the upper and lower portions of the enclosure telescoped.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an enclosure constituting the automatic paper grading machine of this invention. The enclosure is rectangular in its 1 shape and includes an upper portion 11 and a lower portion 12.

The upper portion 111 comprises a top 13. The top 13 is a downwardly opening box like member which includes a peripheral offset or shoulder 14 spaced above its lower edge. The top 13 further includes an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 15 at and constituting the lower edge of the top. The upper portion 11 further has a bottom part 16 which in effect is a sleeve like member open at its top and its bottom. The upper edge of the bottom portion 16 is equipped with a peripheral flange 17. This peripheral flange 17 mates with the peripheral flange 15. These two flanges are sealed together with either an adhesive or with a heat seal of the plastic from which the enclosure is preferably formed. A first peripheral offset or shoulder 18 is formed in the bottom portion '16 a short distance below the upper flanged edge 17. The bottom part 16 is provided with a second peripheral oflfset or shoulder 19 spaced substantially below the first offset 18 and is disposed generally midway between the top and bottom of the bottom portion 16. The lower edge of the bottom portion 16 is provided with an inwardly projecting peripheral flange 20 which in effect constitutes a third offset or shoulder in the bottom portion 16. The general conformation of the sleeve like member 16 is an inward tapering from top to bottom. The offsets provide inherent supports for plates to be carried within the enclosure and the general inward tapering permits easy molding of the plastic body and facilitates removal from the molds or dies used in producing the enclosure.

An enlongated generally horizontal disposed opening 21 is provided along the front of the enclosure 10 at the position of the junction of the peripheral flanges 15 and 17. It is through this opening that an examination paper to be graded is inserted. In order to facilitate the easy insertion of the paper or papers to be graded the opening 21 is further defined and equipped with outwardly flaring flanges. An upwardly inclined flange 22 extends along the top of the opening and a downwardly inclined flange 23 extends along the bottom of the opening. With these outwardly flaring flanges as a guide, papers to be graded are easily fed into the enclosure.

The lower portion 12 of the enclosure 10 has an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 24. This flange is located around the upper edge of the lower portion and generally defines an upwardly opening box like member.

Feet 25 are preferably located at each of the four corners of the lower portion 12 and provide a non-scratching support for the automatic grader of this invention on a table or other carrying surface.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 the lower portion 12 is equipped with a solid plate 26 which rests on and is carried by the top of the peripheral flange 24. The upper portion 11 of the enclosure is provided with a plurality of perforated plate means. It is the particular disposition of the perforated plate means and punches to be subsequently described which cause the examination paper to be punched adjacent to the correct answers in a multiple choice examination. The perforated plate means includes a first perforated plate 27 which normally rests on and is carried by the second peripheral ledge or shoulder 19. This plate 27 is thus disposed in substantially the central portion of the bottom portion 16 of the upper portion 11. The perforated plate means further includes a second perforated plate 28 resting on the first peripheral ledge or shoulder 18 located close to the top of the bottom portion 16. The perforated plate means still further includes a third perforated plate 29 which is fastened to the underside of the ledge or shoulder 14 at the lower edge of the top 13 of the upper portion 11. A peripheral spacer 30 is located between the second perforated plate 28 and the third perforated plate 29. This peripheral spacer 30 is continuous around the enclosure at the position of the junction of the flanges 15 and 17 except for the extent of the horizontal opening 21 through which examination papers are fed. The spacer 30 thus performs the dual function of providing a space within the enclosure to receive examination papers to be graded and simultaneously acts as an edge locator or guide for the papers to be graded. In order to accomplish uniform grading results the examination papers must be inserted the same distance and in a uniform manner each time. It is this peripheral spacer 30 that permits the user to slide an examination paper or papers 31 through the opening 21 and flush with the spacer 30 both at the end of the paper and the sides of the paper.

A plurality of punches 32 are carried within the enclosure and are the means of causing the examination papers to be punched. These punches 32 include enlarged heads 33 at their lower ends. The heads 33 are supported on the solid plate 26 of the lower portion 12. The punches include intermediately disposed annular shoulders 34 which are spaced above the heads. The other ends of the punches are pointed as shown at 35 for easy penetration of papers to be graded.

Springs 36 are generally located at each of the four corners of the rectangular enclosure between the first and second perforated plates 27 and 28. These springs urge a separation of the upper and lower portions of the enclosure. When the enclosure 10 is assembled for use the lower portion 12 is telescoped into and through the bottom opening of the upper portion 11. The peripheral flange 24 of the lower portion 12 is disposed above the peripheral flange 20 of the upper portion to thereby prevent or limit vertical separation. The spring means employed may take any form that will permit the upper and lower portions to be yieldably brought together.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6 there is provided in the enclosure a traverse slot 37 which extends across one of the narrow ends of the rectangularly shaped enclosure. The slot is cut into the bottom part 16 of the upper portion 11 at the position of the third offset or shoulder 20. The slot 37 is cut through the lower edge of the bottom part 16 except for the lateral ends of the slot where there is retained short catches 38 and 39. It is through this slot 37 that the lower portion 12 is inserted in an endwise direction. During insertion it is necessary that the solid plate 26 cause a slight raising of the punches 32 until the lower portion is completely inserted into the upper portion. At this point the lower portion is released and the action of the springs 36 cause the lower portion to be extended its full distance with the flange 24 of the lower portion abutting the inside of the inwardly projecting flange 20 of the upper portion. It will be obvious that in this position the lower portion cannot be directly withdrawn from the upper portion because of the catches 38 and 39. This construction prevents unwarranted removal of the lower portion of the automatic grader. However, it is extremely easy to slightly compress the lower portion relative to the upper portion so that the flange 24 and its superposed plate 26 is in alignment with the traverse slot 37 to thereby permit easy slidable removal of the lower portion.

When an examination paper 31 is inserted into the enclosure through the entrance slot 21 the paper is graded by applying a downward force as shown at 40 'by the arrows in FIG. 5 and by the illustration of a persons hands in FIG. 1.

Preliminary to use the instructor prepares his multiple choice examination questions and thereafter removes the lower portion from the enclosure and turns the upper portion of the enclosure upside down. He is now looking through the open bottom of the upper portion and has ready access to the punches 32. He now places the punches through the accurately aligned openings 41 and 42 in the plates 27 and 28 respectively in a manner so that there is a punch capable of pressing through the space between the perforated plates 28 and 29 at the position of each correct answer and into cooperating aligned holes 43 in the plate 29. The operator will then remove all extra punches and then reinsert the lower portion 12 into the upper portion 11 by sliding through the end opening 37 as previously described. After turning the enclosure right side up as shown in the drawings the automatic grader of this invention is ready for use. Following the taking of the examination either the student or the teacher may with his hands 44 insert the examination paper 31 into the enclosure through the slot 21 to the fullest extent permissable for the spacer member '30. Now the operator exerts a downward pressure as shown at 40 in FIG. 5 thus causing an inward telescoping of the upper and lower portions resulting in the punches 32 and their points pressing through the examination paper 31 and into and through the holes 43 in the plate 29. Thereafter, the pressure is released to thus permit the upper and lower portions to be extended by reason of the actions of the springs 36 to thereupon cause a withdrawal of the punches from the examination paper down into the relatively thick perforated plate 28 lying beneath the opening 21. The result is a graded examination paper without the teacher or instructor performing any more mental effort other than the original setting of the punches adjacent the correct answers.

What is claimed is:

-1. A device for grading examination papers comprising an enclosure having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a generally horizontally disposed opening for receiving papers to be graded, spring means normally biasing said upper and lower portions toward maximum vertical separation, perforated plate means in said enclosure, a plurality of punches having head ends and pointed ends, said punches prearranged in certain perforations in said plate means and disposed vertically in said enclosure, said lower portion having a solid plate therein to abut the head ends of said punches, said pointed ends of the punches terminating below the horizontally disposed opening in the upper portion when the upper and lower portions are fully extended, and when a force is applied downwardly on the upper portion to overcome the action of the spring means the upper and lower portions of the enclosure are caused to telescope with the solid plate in the lower portion pushing the punches up in the enclosure so the pointed ends pass above the horizontally disposed opening to thereby perforate any examination paper which has been previously inserted into the enclosure through the horizontally disposed opening.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the enclosure is substantially rectangular in overall shape.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the horizontally disposed opening has outwardly flaring flanges for the easy insertion of examination papers to be graded.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the spring means are located within the rectangular enclosures at the four corners thereof.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the perforated plate means includes a first plate with a plurality of uniformly spaced apart holes therein arranged for generally stationary disposition with respect to the lower portion of the enclosure and a second plate means with a plurality of uniform spaced apart holes therein, said holes of the second plate means in vertical alignment with the holes in the first plate, said second plate means spaced above the first plate and arranged for movement with the upper portion of the enclosure, and said second plate means adapted to vertically guide the pointed ends of the punches.

6. A device set forth in claim 5 in which the second plate means includes a relatively thick plate disposed immediately below the generally horizontally disposed opening in the enclosure, and a further spaced above plate disposed immediately above the generally horizontally disposed opening in the enclosure.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the enclosure tapers inwardly from top to bottom and has at least one inwardly turned flange around the perimeter to provide for the concealment of the junction between the upper and lower portions of the enclosures.

8. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the lower portion of the enclosure comprises an upwardly opening generally rectangularly shaped box-like member, an outwardly projecting flange around the perimeter of the top of the box-like member, said solid plate of the lower portion carried on said outwardly projecting flange, and in which the upper portion of the enclosure comprises an open bottom and an inwardly projecting flange around the perimeter of the open bottom, and whereby the lower portion is telescoped within and through the open bottom of the upper portion and the inwardly projecting flange of the upper portion is disposed on the underside of the outwardly projecting flange of the lower portion to limit the telescopic separation of the upper and lower portions.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which there is included means for slidably separating the lower portion from the upper portion to service or otherwise change the positioning of the punches.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which a slot is cut in one end of the upper portion of the enclosure adjacent to and including a part of the inwardly turned flange to permit endwise insertion and removal of the lower portion with respect to the upper portion.

References Cited JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner J. H. WOLFF, Assistant Examiner 

